The burdock root originated from Siberia. It was eaten in Europe during the Middle Ages. It’s very popular in Japanese cooking nowadays and also in Chinese medicine. The burdock root is a very long vegetable, it can measure up to 4 feet.The ones I found at the local grocery store are on the small side. Do not peel the burdock root, it has all the vitamins. It just needs to be well brushed. This recipe comes from my supermarket. This root is DELICIOUS, it tastes like artichoke!

After washing the burdock root, cut it lengthwise. Then, cut it in 1.5 inches pieces. Put the dashi in a pot, add the burdock root and cook until tender. In a small bowl, mix miso and sake. Add to the burdock root and sprinkle with black sesame. Enjoy cold or room temperature!

Before talking about of the konniaku, I need to talk just a little about bentos. They are lunch boxes that you find everywhere in Japan. People buy them or make them to go to work, school or out for a picnic. The box can be really fancy from lacquer, to bamboo or simply plastic or metal. The rules for a healthy bento are 3 parts for carbs (rice, pasta…), 1 part for protein ( meats, fish, tofu) and 2 for fruits and veggies. (3,1,2)

Voici un des bentos que j’ai fait pour ca, il n’est pas sophistique mais il etait bon d’apres ce que j’ai entendu ;-). Here is an example of a bento that I made for Sam, it’s far from being fancy but it works for a school day!

Is this a vegetable?? Yes, it’s but you have a better chance to find it close to the tofu section rather than the apples! It comes from the Konjac plant. It’s actually really easy to cook and it’s good. It’s a health food with almost no calories and it fills you up! Follow the guide for an attempt to konniaku stir fry with veggies and chicken!

That evening we had the stir fry with some sweet potatoes rice. If you want a break from plain rice (we need it here), add slices of sweet potatoes to your rice in the rice cooker and 2 tablespoon of sake. That’s it!